Original report from Banteay Meanchey
10 March 2010
A leading Cambodian genocide researcher has decided to build a “reconciliation road” in the village where as a young man he was forced to labor under the Khmer Rouge.
Chhang Youk, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, broke ground on the road under the hot sun Tuesday, saying the road was dedicated to the death of his family and other victims of the Khmer Rouge here.
People in the village of Kadal, in Banteay Meanchey province’s Preah Net Preah district, saved his life and the lives of some of his family members, Chhang Youk said Tuesday. But they would be using the road alongside the former soldiers of the regime still living in the area.
The 200 meters of road will solve a flooding problem ahead of the rainy season and, by benefiting both sides, will act as a symbol of reconciliation, he said.
“We want reconciliation inside of the village, within the community, in our district and within our province,” said Chhang Youk, who was 15 years old when the Khmer Rouge came to power and who lost 19 members of his family to the regime.
This small, flood-prone stretch of road will cost more than $3,000 to repair, but it is a critical part of the area’s infrastructure, linking villages to rice fields and a lake where people fish.
Vestiges of the Khmer Rouge are evident throughout Banteay Meanchey province, which saw some of the most atrocities under the Khmer Rouge. An estimated 5,000 people died at this commune alone, 300 of them in Kandal village.
“Comrade Srey Pov and Comrade Soeun were killed here,” said Sambod Sovannara, a lecturer at Panhasastra University, who spoke at Tuesday’s groundbreaking. The two were killed for “immorality,” for falling in love.
“I lost 24 people in my family,” Sambod Sovannara said.
Hong Huy, chief of Preah Net Preah commune, said former high-ranking soldiers of the Khmer Rouge still lived in the commune.
“We wish from this road of reconciliation that people will bury the hate from the Khmer Rouge regime and build up solidarity within the community,” Hong Huy said.
Chhang Youk, director of the Documentation Center of Cambodia, broke ground on the road under the hot sun Tuesday, saying the road was dedicated to the death of his family and other victims of the Khmer Rouge here.
People in the village of Kadal, in Banteay Meanchey province’s Preah Net Preah district, saved his life and the lives of some of his family members, Chhang Youk said Tuesday. But they would be using the road alongside the former soldiers of the regime still living in the area.
The 200 meters of road will solve a flooding problem ahead of the rainy season and, by benefiting both sides, will act as a symbol of reconciliation, he said.
“We want reconciliation inside of the village, within the community, in our district and within our province,” said Chhang Youk, who was 15 years old when the Khmer Rouge came to power and who lost 19 members of his family to the regime.
This small, flood-prone stretch of road will cost more than $3,000 to repair, but it is a critical part of the area’s infrastructure, linking villages to rice fields and a lake where people fish.
Vestiges of the Khmer Rouge are evident throughout Banteay Meanchey province, which saw some of the most atrocities under the Khmer Rouge. An estimated 5,000 people died at this commune alone, 300 of them in Kandal village.
“Comrade Srey Pov and Comrade Soeun were killed here,” said Sambod Sovannara, a lecturer at Panhasastra University, who spoke at Tuesday’s groundbreaking. The two were killed for “immorality,” for falling in love.
“I lost 24 people in my family,” Sambod Sovannara said.
Hong Huy, chief of Preah Net Preah commune, said former high-ranking soldiers of the Khmer Rouge still lived in the commune.
“We wish from this road of reconciliation that people will bury the hate from the Khmer Rouge regime and build up solidarity within the community,” Hong Huy said.
3 comments:
Reconciliation= Is that in the Buddhist Scripture? How about forgiveness?
That is great that they are able to reconcile and forgive of the wrong been done and move on one 'road' at a time. Forgiveness is the most powerful weapon to heal the broken hearts and people and the land. Plus love for your brother/sister. Love conquers all.
i think this is a step in the right direction. when we all can forgive and reconciliate, we move forward to make our beloved country strong, united for the common good. i think it is healthy to forgive each other and help to educate each other. after all, we all are human beings. it was sin, then we learned from it not to repeat history again. god bless cambodia.
That money is too little to compare with samdech akakmosena a cho Hun Sen build schools and bridges. kom chang oud.
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